Sprinter Misses The Bus But May Travel To The Olympics

A young sprinter is on the verge of Britain's Olympic team - after he was spotted running for a bus.

In a change of events that would be right at home in a Hollywood film, Jeffrey Lawal Balogun, 23, was running late for college when he chased after the 28 bus in Bromley, Kent, four years ago.

But his natural pace was noticed by a coach from a local track and field club who happened to be walking by.

She approached Balogun and put him in touch with Clarence Callender, one of Britain's leading sprinting coaches.

With his help, the runner is now ranked sixth in the country over 60 metres and hopes to compete at the London 2012 Olympics.

"I always knew that I was fast, but I didn't really know how to get into running.m Then one day I was on my way to college and had to run after the bus. I must have been quite fast because a girl came up to me afterwards and asked if I ran with a club," ," he told the Daily Mirror.

"The ultimate goal has to be the Olympics. To win a medal would be the best feeling ever. I just wish I'd started earlier."

Balogun, who now lives in Mottingham, South London, added: "I never thought running after a bus would lead to all this. And the funny thing is, I missed it."